Sheep

Publication date: July 1, 2022

Drought often changes the composition of forages. Issues such as nitrate accumulation and reduced nutritive value often cause problems for farmers using drought-damaged forages. Many producers are now searching for alternative feeding options for ...

Publication date: May 1, 2022

To access and purchase local meat, consumers have choices. One option is to buy a live animal from a livestock producer and have that animal processed at a custom-exempt, state-inspected or federally inspected facility. Rather than purchase a whole ...

Publication date: April 15, 2022

A constant supply of clean fresh water is essential to an efficient livestock operation. A system providing water that is neither too cold in winter nor too warm in summer will promote increased consumption and result in better animal performance.The ...

Publication date: Nov. 1, 2021

Figure 1. Missouri cattle graze on cereal rye in early spring. (Credit: Alan Weber)Cover crop planting is becoming increasingly common in Missouri, practiced on 840,000 acres in 2017, more than double the acreage in 2012. While cover crops have been ...

Publication date: Oct. 1, 2021

This ewe flock budget shows economic cost and return estimates for a forage based production system birthing lambs in the spring and raising them on pasture until early winter, targeting holiday markets. Farmers are encouraged to modify this budget ...

Publication date: Oct. 1, 2021

The sheep budget is designed to reflect the economic costs and returns of a 50 ewe, winter lambing flock (December/January) with lambs marketed between 60 to 70 pounds in April/May. This management system takes advantage of expected seasonally high ...